Floor and wall furnace



Dec. 2o, 1949 R, E. JAMES 2,491,664

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vDec. 20, 1949 R. E. JAMES FLOOR AND WALL FURNACE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 15, 1946 IN VEN TOR. Rica-:Ann E. JAMES.

Dec. 20, 1949 Filed March 15, 1946 R. E. JAMES FLOOR AND WALL FURNACE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. R/cHnRn E. JA/wss.

BY MMM T TOR/VE x De.v 20, 1949 R, E, JAMES 2,491,664

FLOOR AND WALL FURNACE Filed March l5, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR. R/cHnRn E'. :JA/wss.

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ATTORNEY' Patented Dec. 20, 1949 UNITED STATES PAf-TE'NT GFFICKE 2,491,664' y l FLOORl AND WALLFURNAC Richaran. James, Pasadena; Calif.; assignerto 1 Rheem Manufacturing vCo'rima-ny; Richmond,`

Calif., a corporation Application March 15, 194e, serial Nb; 654,721?,

eclainls. (cities-11169 The-invention relates to ,heating units and particularly units for l'heating'and circulating airin orderto maintain room space ata desirable'tern- =perature;

In vcontrast with central heating systemsg'o'peration of individual space heating" devices adapted to heat -room space by means of circulation or radiation oiheat frequently overlooks the'im'po'rtance of' heating all fof the 'air in the space or Vroom -so 'that-there is no strata of 'air whereinV the temperaturediiers Ymarkedly from'the tern- -perature of the vrest-ot the room. Most "fren.quently `'in heating lunits of this type improper Yprovi-sion 'is made for-*heating the stratum' of -air immediately adjacentY the floor heaters land 'space heaters of'conventional-types heretofore manufactured, while per-forming with reasonable"success so lfar as maintaining :all ade- :quate temperature lin-the room is concerned', have -been=.ineicient 1in heating thelower levels of air.

It is commonly known that thecldest 'airiis heaviest.andseeks the lowest level iin `lthe heated iroom. :I-Ieaters'vvhich lhave an .lintakeor which begin .the .circulation of lair from -a level above fthe 'surfacel of` the .floor zare inclined to :draw-"air fromelevels distant #from itheiioor surfacebyf-a substantial amountrand'no meansof positive circulation is provided for air at the floor leVeI.-

Consequently, th-is .layer remains cold;I

While rit `is also true that :heating .devices vof materially saved when heating unitscan be installed at or above ground level.

' For mosteiective heating the products o'f combustion should be vented and `ol'lly'the room air circulated through the (heating unit'.` 'Certain -types of units frequently referred to as oor furnaces have been provided, lbut tojdate units of the `floor furnace type have .usually necessitated 'theprovision of apit vof some kind or other below 'the surface of the ground in order 'to house ralltof theV necessary portions of lthe ".Eurnaces.` Floor levelf Wall furnaces' of the type' requiring a vsub-'surta cefpit entail ahigh costei installation, v and the'lo er(- ating parts are relatively inaccessible for' service and repa'inwhenthatbecomes necessary.y l

1t is', therefore, among thebjeCfS 0f th'el tio'n to 'provi'dea new and improved clonflbih'a n floor furnace and wall heater unit which is adapted Ato provide uniform' heating for alllelvls bi air in arooin or space." y K ,Another object' is tozpifoviue a new andlimprovedv combination'floor furnacea'nd wallI heater which can lhe vinstalled. Within fa' building Withlflt thene'cess'it'y ofgproviding a` pit or spacembelow vthellsual floor construction. u Still another object Of the invention iS pIIO- vide anew .and improved floor furnace and-wall ,heater 'unit .so cdesigned that the burner ,ismain- .tained at a 'level `ai; or' below' the surface 0i the floor of the space to be heated vand iwhich .ispri'ovided with suitably .located air'intakes and air outlets vto promote circulation of .all .levels of .air in theV space 'so that there may notre'rnain any iundistur'bedstrata of air unaffected byoperatifon of the heating unit.`

.Still vfurther Yamong the objects iof .the inven- .tion'is .to provide a convenient and eflic'ient''oojl /iurnaceland wall heaterv which is' easily Adisassem- .bledsol as to .render the workin'g'parts :readily accessible, which has a pilot burner readily aclc'essible from the exterior without disassembly, .and which is productive of a highly eflicientcirculation of air without'therebeing presentQ b jectionable hot spotsrat the surface of the unit.

AWith these and otherobjectsfin view; the Tinlv ention consists in theconstruction, ,arrangement and combination'of the various parts of the .device whereby'the objects contemplated are attained,'as hereinafter morezfully set forth', p oint ed out in the claims Vand illustratedin the accompanying drawingsin which: I x

Figure l is a side elevational view of ar col'nbif nation floor furnace and wall heater unit' 'shown .in the 'position it would occupy'when installed vin a room.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal, elevational, endview of the'heater showninFlgure'l.` l Figure A3 'is a cross-sectional view takenon the 'line"3'-3 'of Figure e.

Figure .4 is a longitudinal, elevational' view' in section 'taken on the line '5f-4 of Figure"1.r.v Figure is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section shelving a 1lower corner of the unit inco. poratingdoors giving'access'toapildt A* l I Figure 6 is a fragmentary, crosssectionalyew on theline 5-#6 oiFigure 1i.` f

Figure 7 is a longitudinal, sectional, exploded view showing certain portions of the device in removed position.

Figure 8 is a vertical, sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Figure 4.

It has been found that for best all-around results complete circulation of air in a space which is to be heated is highly desirable. This means that layers of air at all levels must be maintained in circulation. To best accomplish this the heater unit must have its intake at the cold air level and its outlet spaced a sufficient distance above the cold air intake so that there is a draft induced within the unit suiiicient to maintain a steady uniformmcirculation. In some types of units there are provided radiating sources of heat in an attempt to provide quick heat or flash heat for a room; Radiating sources of heat have the disadvantage of not promotingv 4 a well-defined circulation of air and the disadvantage of making it necessary to provide a Very hot source of radiating heat energy which is actually too hot at distances relatively close to the source. rIhere is the further 'danger of having the heat sources so hot that they are dangerous to the touch and therefore must beV provided with special guards.

In an embodiment chosento illustrate the invention there is shown a unit which combines a floor level intake and burner member with a heating member located in the wall, the unit being incorporated in a casing I0 having side faces I I and I2 on opposite sides of a stud partition wall I3. The bottom of the casing extends downwardly to substantially the surface of a oor I4 and is provided with warm air outlet louvers I5 and an aperture IB functioning, in part, as a down draft diverter. A door II is shown at the lower portion of one side which when opened gives access to a pilot.

As best viewed in Figure 4, it will be found that the unit consists of a portion above the floor surface all housed within the casing I0 and a portion below the door surface which is housed within a re resistant burner compartment or pit I8 consisting of side walls I9 and a bottom Wall of metal or other suitable material. The compartment is made of such a size that it will t within floor joists 2li of conventional size and spacing. The depth of the compartment is made less than the depth of the joints so that there may be applied a surface structure 22 against the bottoms of the joists which extends uninterruptedly under the compartment I8.

Although in the example chosen there has been illustrated a double unit which is capable of heating spaces on opposite sides of a partition wall, it will be appreciated that .the description applies equally well to a unit which might be so designed as to heat space adjacent only one wall. It will be noted that the unit is one of special advantage when gas heat is used. A gas line 25 is shown extending parallel to and below the oor surface. The gas line extends through one of the floor joists, a side wall I9 and into the compartment I8 Where it is connected to a control valve unit 26. The control valve unithere illus- 'trated contains one valve 2'I adapted to control the flow of gas through a pilot line 28 and pilot light 29. A second valve 39 controls the iiow of gas through a gas line 3l which supplies a burner 32 of somewhat elongated construction, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 3 and full lines inFigure8.` v

It is important to note that the burner is 1ocated at a level substantially at or slightly belov the surface level of the floor I4.

The compartment I 8 communicates with thl adjacent space or spaces to be heated by mean: of air intakes covered by grills 33 located substantially at the level of the Iloor surface although for convenience there may be providec a molding or tting 34 for securing the gril which may extend a fraction of an inch above the actual surface of the floor. Substantially al of the air which inds its way into the compartment I8 enters through the grills 33 which are constantly open. Air is supplied by this means to the burner 32 as well as for separate heating and recirculationthroughout the space which ie to be heated by the unit.

To provide a space for the unit the partition Wall YI3 'is broken away to form an opening ox aperturesubstantially the size of the casing IU. Inasmuch as the lower portion of one stud 23 must be removed, studs 38 and 39 at the sides are reinforcedl by securing to them short stud members 38 and 39 which support a beam 24 upon which the cut-off stud 23 may rest. For supporting the casing and the portions of unit within the casing there may be provided what may be considered as anropen frame or spider. indicated generally by the character 35, which consists of longitudinal legs 36 and lateral legs 3'1, the ends of the legs being preferably connected tothe grills 33. The grills `in turn are supported upon the floor surface in the manner shown. By means of the spider theentire unit may be hung directly beneath the partition wall and in proper position at the top o f the compartment I8.

Around the inner portion of the Vspider there is provided a retainer ring element 4l) in which is a recess 4I, the elongated shaped of which can be particularly discerned in Figure 3. A heating element or heating stack 42 has its lower edge Yseated within the recess 4I by means of which the heating element is supported. By constructing the ring 40 and the recess 4I so that they yare at a level slightly above the top of the burner 32 and surrounding the burner, all of the products of combustion fromthe burner are directed upwardly through the heating element.V

In order to make most effective use of the heating element, baffles 43, 44 and 45 are located transversely and in spaced relation Within the heating element and provided with suitable apertures 46, 4'I and 48 to divert the products of combustion in a circuitous path upwardly Within the heating element so that a sufficient exchange of heat takes place in order to keep the unit operating properly. The products of combustion eventually nd their way upwardly through a stack unit 49`which telescopes witha second stack vunit 5B from which the ygases pass into a chamber 5I, thence Vthrough apertures 52 in an angularly disposed down draft diverting baiiie 53 emerging into passages 54. The passages 54 also communicate through apertures I6 with the space which is to be heated. v v

Since the products of combustion induce a draft upwardly, they travel upward through a vent 55 and an insulated passage 5G within the partition wall I3. e Although some small portion of the products of combustion may escape outwardly Ainto the heated space through the aperture I5, the general direction of fiow will cause air from thel heated space to enter the passages 54 through the aperture I6 lanlproceed'upward .ly through the vent together with the products for combustion.

' Air from the space which is to be heated is caused .to-circulate past the heating unit 42. This .is accomplished by providing inner airliners 60 oneac'h side which form circulating warm air .passages 6I. The warm air passages 5I are open at the .bottom so asI to communicate with the compartment I8 and vopen at the top so that air from the circulating warm air passages may pass from the bottom upwardly, striking baffles 62, if need =beand thence outwardly through the outlet f louvers I5. The inner air liners 60 have their bottom edges 64 retained by a flange 65 'in thespider 35S The bottom edges of the inner air liners, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 7 particularly, are located slightly below the bottom edgeA ofthe heating element 42.

Above the bales 62`is a space li'separated fromthe chamber 5I by means of a partition wall T65. Beather holes S6 Ygive access to the space 64.

In addition to the inner air liners 6E providing circulating 'warm air passages 6I, by reason of their being spaced inwardly from the casing walls II and I2,V they likewise provide air passages lil. These,` air passages have a bottom opening at about 'the level 'of 'the lowermost portion of the spiderinto which air from the compartment I8 may pass directly and travel upwardly between the 'casing walls and the inner air liners to a point '.II where the air emerges, mixing with heated air from the circulating warm air passages '6I, andthence passing outwardly through the louvers I5.' By providing air passages Ill the outer surface of the unit comprising the casingwall's is maintained relatively cool. Although radiation of heat from the unit is thus reduced to substantially a minimum, `the construction has the-effect' of improving the .circulation of air through the unit which has the advantage of rn'iusingv a more complete circulation of air in the space to be heated. Since the side walls havetheir bottom edges 'I2 retained by suitable anges'l5 lasubstantial distance below oor level, incoming yair throughthe grill 33 is deflected downwardly before'it can enter the bottoms of any voi the passages within the unit.

In order'to give access to the pilot 29, doors are-provided inthe various portions of the unit. Atthe base of the heating unit is provided a door v15. A door 'I6 is located near the bottom 0f""th'e'adjacent inner air liner, each of which isv aligned lwith the door I1 located near the bottom` of the wall II of the outer casing. A link' I8 is attached to the door T5 and extends through a suitable opening in the door 16. A leaf spring I9 on the door I'I is adapted to press en'dwise-against the end of the link when the doors are in closed position in order to force the doors 'I5 and I6 into closed position.

To open the doors and gain access to the pilot light the 'door II is first opened, after which the doorsl'B and 'I5 may be simultaneously opened by'reason of their inter-connection through the link: 18, the open doors assuming the positions shown in Figure 5, When the doors are in open position access is had to the pilot 29 which can thenbe 'lighted or adjusted.

' rIn order further to facilitate installation and temporary removal of vparts of the device for reconditioning or repair of the interior, the heating "element 'B2 and each of the inner air liners 60, aswell as each of the sides II and I2 of the casing, can be removed. Although Figure 7 illustrates the elements .on one side onlyin lre-A moved position, it will-be appreciatedthat vboth lsides may ybe removed-.in "the same mannenif desired. r

To facilitate removal of the parts to the positions shown in Figureflthe chamber 5I, stack unit 5I) and vent 55, together with face plates 61, are built as a unit and mountedinthe wall so that they can be moved a limited distance upwardly and downwardly. A piece B8 of insulation may be applied on Veach side for a precaution against overheating within the partition wal-l. Necessary space 69 is provided to permit therequired movement upwardly. When the unit thus described is lifted as shown in Figure 7 the\top edge 80 of the portion of the casing comprising the side wall I2 is free and-permits removal of the side wallY from its position beneath the-lower edge of the baille 53 whichfnormally locksrthe side wall in position. The side wall-can thenbe lifted so that the bottom is entirely free from the spider andcan then be set aside. Next, the adjacent inner air liner may be similarly lifted from its position on the spider and also removed. Following removal of the inner air liner the lower edge of the'heating element 42 maybe lifted free from the recess 4I since the stack .element 49 can be freed from the stack element 5I] by lifting the stack element 50 as previously described. s

For this removal of the heating-elementthe link 'I8 Ymust be disengagedfrom its Yposition in the door 16.4 With the parts thus removed ready access is had to the compartment I8 wherein is located the burner 12 and pilot .29,

The removal also gives somewhat limited access to the control valve unit 26. S-houldit be desired, however, the opposite side portion of the unit may be similarly removed giving complete access to the burner compartment.

The heating element, inner air liners and side walls of the casing may be replaced with equal facility into a position of permanent operative assembly.

From the foregoing description it willbe apparent that there has been provided a heating unit which incorporates the advantages both of a floor intake and a wall outlet. The compartment I8, whichmay readily be designatedas a burner pit, is located between the Viloor joists.V A special pit below the door construction is 'therefore unnecessary. Substantially all of the products of combustion are vented, and only clean air from the space to be heated is recirculated continuously through the unit'. Since the grills 33 are located at oor level, the coldest'layer of air which is the layer of air at floor level is drawn directly into the compartment I8 from whence it is then; passed upwardly either `to the burner, through the circulating warm air passages, or through the air passages -10 which maintain-.the outer surface 'of the .casing `somewhat cool. .By supplying the burner with its air for combustion from air in a space which is to be heated, inltration :of air into the heated `space is promoted thereby facili# tating the constant introduction'` of some freshI air into the heated space. At the :same time no special provision need be made for -introducing air for combustion purposes 'into the space around the burner fromfsome other source.

By the arrangement of deflecting -bales described, located between thetop of the heating unit and the bottom` of the vent 55, an effective down draft eliminator is provided along some-' what `conventional lines for :operation-with ade?"l vice ,having the unique features herein"describetb- "7 The device describedgis one which is particularly-simple ininstallation and can be added to a building structure which is already in existence as readily as it can be installed during the initial construction-of the building.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described Vin what is conceived to be the most' practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departuresmay be made therefrom -within the -scope of the invention, which lis not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but-is vto be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent structures v- -Theinvention having been herein'described, what is claimed and'sought to be secured by LettersPatentis:

l. A floor and wall furnace adapted for installation in and to be supported by a door at its juncture with a building wall supported by said floor vand said wallhaving ya recess therein for receptionof a part of said furnace comprising: ymeans forming a burner pit, said means having outwardly extending upper marginal anges adapted to be supported by said ,floor and to underlie the opening-in said wall, an open frame superadjacent said burner pit means and having marginal edges adapted to be supported by said door, a gas burner centrally disposed in said burner pit below the level of the marginal flanges thereof, a hollow heat exchange unit super-adjacent said burner having-a lower openend and an upper ue outlet to receive products `of combustion from said burner and adapted to 'be positioned in the recess in said wall, an outer casing supported bysaid open frame having marginal edges adapted to overlie portions of said Wall adjacent the recess therein and having a lower open end and an opening adjacent the top thereof, and an inner liner-spaced between said heat exchange unit and said outercasing defining inner and outer air passages in conjunction with said heat exchange unit and said outer casing respectively.

2. A oor and wall .furnace adapted for installation in and to be supported by a :door at its juncture with a building wall supported by said licor and said wall having a recess therein for reception of a part of said furnace comprising: means `forming a burner pit, said means having outwardly` extending upper marginal flanges adapted to be supported by said oor and to underlie said wall, an open framesuperadjacent said burner pit means and having marginal edges adapted to be supported by said floor, a gas burner centrally disposed in said burner pit below the level of themarginal flanges thereof, a hollow heat exchange unit superadjacent said burner having a lower open end and an upper flue outlet to Vreceive products of combustion from said burnerV and adapted to be positioned in the recess in said wall, an outer. casing havingva lower open end supported by the frame inwardly of the marginal edges of` said frame and said casing having marginal edges yadapted to overlie portions of said wall adjacent .thevrecess therein, an inner liner spaced between said heat exchange unit and said outer casing defining inner and outer air vpassages in conjunction with said heat exchange unit and said outer casing respectively, means forming a warm air discharge in communication with said passages, and a downdraft diverter adapted to be positioned in said wall and communicating with said heat exchange unit and adapted for ,limited vertical movement whereby retaining engagement is @sectes with` said heat juncture with a building wall supported by `said 'oor and said wall-having a recess therein for reception of a part of said furnaceocomprising: means forming a burner pit, said means having outwardly extending upper marginal anges adapted to be supported by said licor and to underlie said'wall, lan openI frame rsuperadjacent saidburner pit means and having marginal edges adapted to be supported by said floor and being formed with outer,'intermediate and inner retaining elements, a gas burner centrally disposed insaid burner pit below'the level of the inarginal flanges thereof, a hollow heat exchange unit supported by said inner retaining element superadjacent said burner having a lower open vend and an upper flue outlet to receiveproducts of combustion from'said burner and adapted tobe positioned in said recess in said wall, an'outer casing having a 4loweropen 'end supported by the frame inwardly of the marginal edges of said frame, said casing having lateral marginal edges adapted to overlie portions of said wall, an inner liner supported byA said intermediate'retaining element and 'spaced between said heat exchange unit and said cuter casing dening inner and outer air passages in conjunction with saidv heat exchangeunit and said outer casing respectively, means forming a warm air discharge in communication with said passages, and a downdraft diverter adapted to be positioned in said wall and communicating with said heat exchange unit and adapted for limited vertical movement whereby retaining engagement is effected with said heat exchange unit and said outer casing 'in its lower position and disengagement is elected therewith in its upper position.

' '4. A floor and wall furnace adapted for installation in a. floor at its juncture with a building wall supported by said floor, said door and said wallhavin'g a recess therein for reception of parts of said furnace, comprising; means forming'a burner pit adapted vto be positioned below the door level, a frame overlying said burner pit'means and having marginal edges adapted to overlie portions of said floor adjacent said recess','said frame being formed with openings to permit the entry of relatively cold air from floor level to enter into the burner Ipit, a fuel burner disposed below the level of the marginal iianges thereof in said burner pit, a hollow heat exchange unit superadjacent said burner having a lower open end and an upper iiue outlet to receive products of combustion from said burner` and adapted to be positioned in the recess in said wall and to extend above the floor level, an outer casing having alower open end supported by the frame inwardly of the marginal edges of said frame, said frame having lateral marginal edge portions adapted to overlie portions of said wall adjacent said recess, an innerliner spaced between said outer casing and said heat exchangeunit deiining air passages in conjunction with said outer casing and `said heat exchangeunit respectively, said passages ,being in communication with said burner pit,ralnd means deiining'4 a warm air discharge in communication with said passages. l

5. A floor and wall furnace adapted for installation in 'and to bev supported by a :doorv at its juncture with a building wall supported by said oor, said oor and said wall having a recess therein for reception of parts of said furnace, comprising: means forming a burner pit adapted to be positioned below the iloor level, a frame overlying said burner pit means and having marginal edges adapted to overlie portions of said floor adjacent said recess, said frame being formed with openings to permit the entry of relatively cold air from floor level to enter into the burner pit, a fuel burner disposed below the level of the marginal iianges thereof in said burner pit, a hollow heat exchange unit superadjacent said burner having a lower open end and an upper flue outlet to receive products of combustion from said burner and adapted to be positioned in the recess in said wall and to extend above the floor level, an outer casing having a lower open end supported by the frame inwardly of the marginal edges of said frame, said frame having lateral marginal edge portions adapted to overlie portions of said wall adjacent said recess, an inner liner spaced between said outer casing and said heat exchange unit defining air passages in conjunction with said outer casing and said heat exchange unit respectively and means forming a Warm air discharge in communication with said passages. l

6. A iloor and wall furnace adapted for installation in and to be supported by a oor at its juncture with a building Wall supported by said floor, said oor and said wall having a recess therein for reception of parts of said furnace, comprising: means forming a burner pit adapted to be positioned below the oor level, said means having outwardly extending upper marginal anges adapted to be supported by said iioor, an open frame overlying said burner pit means and 10 having marginal edges adapted to be supported by said oo-r, said frame being formed with openings to permit the entry of relatively cold air from floor level into the burner pit, a fuel burner disposed in said burner pit below the level of the marginal anges thereof, a hollow heat exchange unit superadjacent said burner having a lower open end and an upper ue outlet to receive prod- .ucts of combustion from said burner and adapted to be positioned in the recess in said wall above the floor level, an outer casing having a lower open end supported by the frame inwardly of the marginal edges of said frame, said frame having lateral marginal edge portions adapted to overlie portions of said wall adjacent said recess, said outer casing .being also formed with openings adjacent the top thereof adapted to permit escape of relatively warm air therethrough, and an inner liner spaced between said outer casing and said heat exchange unit defining air passages in conjunction with said outer casing and said heat exchange unit respectively, said passages cornmunicating between said burner pit and the openings of said outer casing.

RICHARD E. JAMES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record-in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,655,211 Terry Jan. 3, 1928 1,660,690 Terry Feb. 28, 1928 2,160,264 Furlong May 30, 1939 2,163,928 Andrews June 27, 1939 

